Indian-Americans come out in support of Anna Hazare's efforts

Coming out in support of Anna Hazare, Indian-Americans have appealed to the Indian government to take serious steps to curb the menace of corruption in the country.

"We NRIs want to remove corruption out of India. We support Anna Hazare's efforts to eradicate the corruption, pass Lokpal Bill and declare black money as national assets," said Dnyanoba Kendre, a yoga teacher from Pennsylvania.

Of all the protests in India in recent times, this is the most legitimate and at the grass root-level, that can change the fate of the country, said Rangarajan, a student from the University of Maryland.

Another student, Umang Agarawal, said they are emailing Supreme Court en mass directly to take suo motu action and save the nation.

"More than Indians fighting against corruption, it seems government is fighting against people who are fighting against corruption. This is going to be one of the watershed moments of Indian history," said Vibhash Jha, a PhD student at the University of Maryland.

Indian-Americans from in and around Washington for the third day held a demonstration in front of the Indian embassy here. Similar events in support of Hazare are being reported from various parts of the country as well.

A large number of Indian-Americans held a similar protest demonstration outside the Indian Consulate in Houston.

"We NRI in Houston feel connected to the movement in India and are expressing support in several forms like Facebook, Twitter, Google, websites in addition to their presence in local gatherings around apartment club houses, public parks and other community places," said Raghava R Solipuram.

Shocked and saddened by the arrest of Hazare and his supporters, Non-Resident Indians for Secular and Harmonious India (NRI-SAHI) said Indian-Americans support the demand of Team Anna to bring every one under the Jan Lok Pal Bill.

"We demand the government of India keep its promise and promulgate an effective Anti-Corruption Bill," NRI-SAHI said.

In a statement, Atlanta-based US Hindu Alliance strongly condemned the measures taken by the Indian government against the peaceful and democratic anti-corruption movement led by Hazare.

"The right to speak freely and the right to protest peacefully have been earned by the people of India after a prolonged struggle which involved the sacrifices of millions of its people.

"Hindus around the world cannot remain silent spectators when the government snatches away the fruits of India's freedom movement and attempts to create a political environment which has all the hallmarks of a police state," it said.